gift ideas

High-tech beauty products have improved significantly in recent years, making it possible to save a lot of money on expensive salon treatments for your skin, lips, nails, hair, and nearly everything else. It's no wonder we're all excited…

While CyberMonday deals kind of started a week ago, making this entire week CyberWeek, it's not to say that you can't get some fantastic deals on tech products today -- some of which have been on for a few days, some of which are brand n…

I've written here before about how I learned to love audiobooks and the trick for me was finding memoirs and nonfiction. So I've put together the hottest memories of the year that are perfect for gifting. Think: new parents who don't hav…

This is a sponsored message from Dell It's now so easy to spoil yourself -- or anyone in your life -- with the gift of technology this holiday season. That’s because Black Friday has come super early at Dell . Meaning right now. Today! F…

We know shopping for the best tech gifts for teens can be pretty challenging, but in our experience, tech is pretty much always a hit -- provided it's age appropriate. And we've got that down! For more than 10 years now, we've been in on…

Father's Day is coming up and while we always have loads of last-minute Father's Day gift ideas for you over on Cool Mom Picks, I was poking around to find some deals for you late shoppers. Turns out, there are some fantastic tech gifts …

Lately, a lot of readers have been asking us to recommend the best Fitbit for their needs -- for themselves as a form of self-care, for gifts for others (ahem Mother's Day and Father's Day are coming up), or just an upgrade to an older m…

After creating a group video for my teen's birthday during the height of the pandemic, I realized how many other occasions it would be perfect for: end-of-year teacher appreciation gifts , Mother's Day , Father's Day , graduation , speci…

If your kid likes multiplayer VR games, clear some space in your living room, parents! Because I have 7 multiplayer games to keep them moving and collaborating -- or from our perspective, randomly grasping around the room while talking t…

I'm absolutely fascinated by the way my own kids and step kids use tech to make ongoing gift wish lists -- the iOS Notes app has become the method of choice for them and so far, that's working pretty well for us. Then I saw Jessica Bradl…

As someone who now regularly attends physical therapy, let me be the first to advise you about the importance of ergonomic laptop accessories: So important! Given how much time we all spend on our computers these days, it really pays in …

I've been a work-from-home mom long before the pandemic was a thing, but it usually translated to "work from cafe" or "work from library" mom. But, I have to say, I'm kind of happy that this past year has created the new habit of actuall…

My favorite Mother's Day gifts usually involve a day to go recharge with some spa treatments , but I'm thinking this is the year to bring the spa home, right? I've been scouring reviews and reading up on the very best high-tech beauty gi…

I've got some good news and some bad news about subscription box gifts this holiday: The good news is that there are tons of subscription boxes out there that you can order in time to gift for Christmas for just about anyone left on your…

Tech gifts are at the top of every one of my kids' wish-lists this year, from my 6-year-old to my 15-year-old. But with so much time spent on their computers for remote schooling this year, I'm leaning toward some of these awesome no-scr…

Ready to shop, parents! We've got the Black Friday deals for you this year. From kitchen appliances to video games to home security, we've found some incredible savings for your holiday shopping. Don't worry, we haven't included any blan…

Of course we had to share these incredible Mandlorian gifts now that season 3 has been announced. I know I'm not the only one with kids who are still obsessed! In fact, our devotion may have gone beyond low key a while ago. So I've put t…

The pandemic has ushered in a whole new cooking renaissance for lots of us, so I've been on the lookout for new gadgets for all you budding gourmets out there. Or anyone who just wants these gadgets to make cooking thee meals a day, ever…

If you're looking for an amazing last-minute holiday gift that the people on your list will love, consider a digital subscription gift. It's one gift takes up no space in their home, yet provides hours of entertainment, learning, or fun.…

If you really want to make someone's holiday this year, consider splurging on one of these hot smart home holiday gifts that will functionally make their lives so much easier. From smart home assistants that can turn on the coffee maker …

If you're stuffing those stockings that have been hung by the chimney with care, we've got the coolest tech stocking stuffers for everyone on your list this year, from really affordable tech accessories to a few splurges. And trust us wh…

We've been experiencing record temps this summer, even for us down in already-toasty Nashville. So anything to make us more comfortable is welcome these days! Sound familiar to you too? So when we spotted these 3 smart, high-tech solutio…

What Potterhead among us hasn't wanted to accio our own working wand and perform a little magic? Like, I don't know...make some Bertie Bott's Every-Flavor Beans get bigger, disappear a few Mandrakes, or summon some chocolate frogs? Well,…

Spring is nearly here, despite snowy forecasts even down South. But our allergens haven't gotten the note that we're not ready for them yet, and my entire family is sneezy, itchy, and cranky. And after my son's allergies got so bad we en…

Our Cool Mom Picks' editor, Liz, had the awesome opportunity to check out the latest Crayola creations at the 2018 Toy Fair, and we are pleased as tropical punch (aka magenta) to sneak peek their brand new and upcoming releases with you!

We know it's never too early to inspire a science and math passion in our kids!

Like so many of you, I'm like, whoops -- 9 days til Christmas and my list is not done at all! So I just clicked over to Amazon and whoa. Deals galore. Here are 10 I think are awesome that you might want to check out too. Just know some o…

Hot Wheels is getting a big tech upgrade, thanks to their newest partnership with a longtime Cool Mom Tech favorite, Osmo . You'll be able to recapture your living room floors from miles of winding plastic track, but still let your kids …

I've been a fan of the Carbon Crusader for a while -- their engraved Hamilton Pencils were a huge hit with our readers over the holidays. So I'm happy to see the fantastic new custom stylus pens . While there are a few R-rated versions (…

Our favorite little droid R2-D2 faithfully served Padmé, Anakin, Luke, and Leia, and now, you can add your own little Jedi to the list, thanks to this new Droid Inventor Kit from CMP favorite littleBits . The Droid Inventor Kit, which is…

Maybe you’re still using a sweet and simple night light that, well… lights up. Let me tell you: you’re missing out.

Most baby board books aren't, you know, rocket science. The ones I read to my four month old pretty much stick with friendly talking animals and geometric shapes, so I was a little surprised to discover the Baby University board books co…

Recently we've seen a lot of smart hydration tech options come onto the market lately. A few months ago, I tried out the Hidrate Spark smart water bottle , and I liked the way it subtly reminded me to take a sip of H2O and tracked my pro…

As a new mom, I'd adore a Mother's Day gift that takes my favorite Instagram shots and transforms them into an awesome keepsake so that I don't have to. After all, I can hardly find time to back up the several billion pictures I've taken…

If you're a regular Cool Mom Tech reader, then you know we love STEM-oriented toys for children , especially if they're so fun and challenging that kids don't notice they're educational, like the new Electric Motors Catalyst box. Unlike …

As much as I love tech that makes my life simpler, easier, and cheaper, sometimes I find a device that just makes life a little more magical. And that's how I feel about Moonlite , a little gadget gives a modern edge to storytelling. Thi…

When we first heard about Bluetooth-enabled water bottles back in 2015, we were a little skeptical here at Cool Mom Tech. I mean, how hard is it to just drink a glass of water, right? But when HidrateSpark sent me one of their smart wate…

We love finding cool custom photo gift, because hello, we're moms! We're sentimental like that. But also, they make great gifts because they demonstrate that some real thought and love went into creating it, even if it doesn't cost a for…

You know how much we love to find a cool, innovative STEM toys for kids at Cool Mom Tech. Well, we think the brand new Cubetto robot by Primo Toys definitely belongs on wish lists this holiday season, especially if you're shopping for pr…

I'm pretty sure I'm not the only mom who's had a toddler run away and hide when I need to take their temperature. The struggle is real. That's why I'm loving the new Elmo smart thermometer from Kinsa. Unlike the original Kinsa smart ther…

Well, we've seen Pride & Prejudice for zombie fans , Pride & Prejudice for doodlers , and Pride & Prejudice for babies too young to know books as anything besides delicious teething toys. So I can't say I'm entirely surprised that someon…

Now that so many of us have a zillion photos stored on our laptops or phones, I love creating any gift that takes the best of those photos and puts them onto something we can hold onto So, for some of my favorite people, I've turned rece…

I never really latched onto the selfie trend, probably because every time I try, I end up partly cut off, at a weird angle or the lighting is awful. But thanks to these five sefie cases and flashes designed just for improving the almight…

Roses are red, violets are blue, but neither will put a smile on your Star Wars-loving valentine's face like one of these quirky Star Wars Valentines bouquets from our favorite geeky shop, Think Geek. Just imagine handing your beloved a …

Considering how much I love photo wall decals , it's no surprise that I'm digging these cool photo calendar decals from Pinhole Press that let you turn your favorite 2015 photos into a fabulous 2016 wall calendar, no hammer and nails req…

H i Cool Mom Picks, I'm looking to purchase the best kids' tablet for a 3-year-old, and maybe one for an 8-year-old. What do you suggest? - Reader, via Facebook. Oh, to be a kid on Christmas morning opening up a brand new tablet to play …

You know that same commercial they run every Christmas where someone rich gives someone else rich a Lexus wrapped in a big red bow? Well that's about as likely to happen around here as Lexus retiring that ad (ha) but now there's a more a…

Next up in our 2015 Holiday Tech Gift Guide series, we’ve put together 14 really cool custom photo gifts for anyone on your list We're talking sleek photo books, unique prints, amazing keepsakes, even a tasty photo treat or two -- basica…

We love toys for kids that are educational too, which is why we're so happy to share of these some favorite cool STEM toys and gifts for kids as the next installment in our 2015 Holiday Tech Gift Guide series. And we’re extra happy to sh…

I feel like I've become the queen of portable chargers around here, which is a good thing since I never leave home without one. Okay, often more than one. I am sad to say that I just can't recommend my formerly beloved Mophie charging ca…

This nice fall weather is making me want to take our entertaining outside, so the kids can run around and play while the parents can sit on the porch with a mug of hot cider (or something stronger) and chat. But since it's kind of sad to…

We have always been big proponents of the idea that all toys are for all kids, sharing finds like dolls made for boys and tech toys that appeal to all kids, which is something our own kids have naturally shown us through their play. And …

We've gotten to the point where my kids watch most of their shows and movies on our iPad. The sound is fine when just one of them is using it at a time, but when they're trying to share it -- which is a feat in and of itself -- the sound…

Okay all ye mothers who felt guilty about not getting those baby books filled with photos representing every little milestone: You are no longer alone! Because now, you don't even have to have kids to feel the pressure of owning a photo …

Last year we fell in love with the Anki Drive app-controlled racers, calling it one of our top tech toys of 2014 . Earlier this year at Toy Fair, we got a look (and a very fun if brief test drive) of the brand new Anki OVERDRIVE and as o…

Should I be embarrassed that I, a 30-something mother of four, saw this Fujifilm Instax Mini Hello Kitty camera and let out a tween-level squeal? Possibly. But heck, who cares? This is freaking awesome. I've had a long standing luv-affai…

I've raved about the SPIbelt sport belt in the past because, well, it's fantastic. And since mine was with by my side (literally) through another half Ironman race last month, I was really excited to check out a possible upgrade, their n…

One of our favorite last-minute suggestions for sentimental Father's Day gifts (and any gift really) has been to make a short, shareable video that you can create easily. While video editing used to reserved for professionals with zillio…

When I think Father's Day gifts, I don't necessarily think tacos. Not that there's anything wrong with tacos. But I do think tech gifts, and while it's hard to find affordable ones, I am so happy to have discovered our friends at This is…

If you haven't heard us gush over the Sonos audio system yet, you must be new here. (Welcome!) We're huge fans of their smart wireless audio system that only gets better with every app upgrade , so we're really excited to pass along a su…

For the dad who has everything, you can't go wrong with Father's Day photo gifts, especially when they come from the kids. Lately I've gotten completely hooked on photo wall decals as the best new way to display my photos, because they d…

We've seen a lot of cameras around here, and we've tested them out under some pretty extreme conditions. (Ask Kristen and me about our kayaking adventure at the GoPro Mountain Games sometime.) But we were all blown away when we learned a…

Nothing says I love you like, please don't let your phone die when I'm trying to reach you because it really freaks me out . Which is why I think it's so clever that Shutterfly has launched the first personalized battery chargers that I'…

If you've got a mom-on-the-go to shop for this Mother's Day, we're so excited that in curating our favorite personalized Mother's Day gifts , we found these cool custom photo laptop sleeves at Snupped. You can choose standard MacBook Air…

Whether you are looking for a thoughtful, unique, and sentimental Mother's Day gift--or just really want one for yourself-- check out My Little Buffalo's custom illustrated family portraits which-- hint- -would make me a very happy recip…

What do you get for the kid who has everything? Cool STEM toys that might help them learn something new, we say. Because even kids who have everything, don't yet know everything. And now it's easier than ever to shop for awesome educatio…

This certainly seems to be shaping up to be the week for emoji. First, Apple announces the new diverse emoji coming out soon, and now we're seeing emoji gifts popping up all over the place. I get it -- sometimes that yellow cartoon face …

If you're looking for a special Valentine's photo gift that goes beyond a photo in a frame, the Heart Photo Poster at Minted could be so special for the right person. 30 of your favorite photos are arranged in a heart shape and beautiful…

I'm not alone in wanting my kids to learn the basics of coding and am thankful there are so many ways to get them interested in the subject. We've covered cool clubs and camps, lots of fun games , as well as apps and websites like Scratc…

For me, the greatest Valentine's gifts are the ones that show how much you really get the person you love. And if you love a geek, we've got four awesomely nerdy mugs that could send exactly the right message on Valentine's Day. Package …

Sometimes the best part of editing a digital photo is messing around with fun filters. And with all of the photo editing apps that we've recommended, filter options are overflowing. So it's always refreshing to find a new photo app that …

When we teased the idea of the Polaroid Socialmatic camera back in the spring, we could hardly contain ourselves. So you can imagine how amped we are now that you can pre-order the Socialmatic right now. Why all the excitement? Well, fir…

You might think that we'd have all of our shopping finished, but even we keep running out of hours in the day. So we've gathered all the details on holiday shipping deadlines from a bunch of our favorite online retailers -- some techie, …

The holiday season involves some of my all-time favorite things: family, friends, good cheer, giving gifts, and sugary treats. And butter. But one of drawbacks of this time of year, for me, has to be the shipping stress. My family is clo…

Whether he goes for the rugged backpacker look or opts for a hip messenger style, you are sure to find just the right camera bag for your favorite photographer guy from ONA Bags . Actually, any of these finely crafted bags would look out…

Sometimes your camera can help you capture a brilliant moment. And other times, the thing of beauty is the camera itself. Case in point: the special, limited edition Diana F+ Explorer Nocturne medium format film camera. Between the coppe…

As a frequent traveler, I've come to terms with the fact that I carry a big pouch around with way too many cords, accessories, portable chargers , and backups to the portable chargers. Even so, I'm always looking for ways to lighten the …

The photographers in our lives are always trying to capture the fun, inspired, beautiful, worth-a-thousand-words moments. So, this holiday, what do you get the brilliant photographer in your life to let them know you'd like them to keep …

The men in my life don't always see smartphone cases the same way we do -- as accessories that can be updated with the season, or even just on a whim. But since we're all pretty equally impressed with the attractive designs of the i Phon…

Our family Christmas tree is never going to be pictured in a design magazine, and that's not just because I let the kids do the decorating. I like to let my family's personality shine through our ornaments, which means all of those kid-c…

If you're planning on grabbing a new XBox One, PS4 or Wii for the kids for the holidays--or maybe just freshening up your existing one with some hot new video games that the whole family can play, we've tracked down the very best ones. W…

Next up in our Holiday Tech Gift guide series, we've put together some awesome gifts for the fitness fans in your life: The very coolest of the cool fitness tech gadgets to help someone achieve those lofty goals -- even if the first goal…

We've shared our favorite cool tech toys and gifts for younger kids, tech toys for big kids , and cool tech gifts for guys under $50 . Now our Holiday Tech Gift guide series continues with these stylish tech gifts for women. Can we have …

Not every toy we buy our kids has to have some sort of "educational component" to it, though I love when I find a great toy that so brilliantly combines play with learning. Such is the case with Tiggly whose Tiggly Shapes was a favorite …

We've shared our favorite cool tech toys and gifts for younger kids, and now our Holiday Tech Gift guide series continues with the coolest tech toys and gifts for older kids. Whether you've got a grade-schooler who's outgrown a learning …

Our Holiday Tech Gift guide series continues with one of our favorite categories: The coolest tech toys and gifts for kids. This year we're breaking our gift recommendations up into big kids and little kids, since that teen of yours proo…

This time of year, a lot of parents start getting subtle (or not so subtle) hints about what their kids would like to see under the tree on Christmas morning. If you've been hearing I hope Santa brings me a tablet , along with sighs and …

This is a sponsored message from RadioShack With the holiday shopping season officially here, finding the perfect holiday tech gifts doesn't have to be harder than hitting your local RadioShack , where they've stocked their shelves with …

We're so pleased to share our annual Holiday Tech Gift guide with you all, starting with one of the categories you all ask us for the most: The coolest Tech gifts for guys under $50. Of course we'd like plenty of them too--coolness often…

Though I'm sure my kids' teachers, coaches, and other VIP's appreciate the effort that goes into collecting money for a group gift at the holidays, I just dread being the poor person in charge of that thankless job. Bugging people for mo…

These days, you can't swing a USB cable a foot without knocking over at least 40 different Bluetooth wireless speakers . And that's just the good ones. Thanks to Cool Mom Tech, I've been lucky enough to try out a lot of these same speake…

I've logged thousands of miles running and cycling, which is not only a good way to counteract my love for carbs, but also to evaluate how I can comfortably carry all the stuff I need while I'm out. I'm talking about my phone, my keys, m…

If you love designer labels or know someone who does, then you know your favorite items often fall into the never-fulfilled wish list. So it's nice to see affordable headphone makers, Urban Ears , and their collaboration with one of toda…

If you're looking for the spendy kids' holiday gift of the season (and I know, I can't believe I'm thinking about this already either) I think I've found it in the new Razor Deluxe Crazy Cart ride-on car . I spent a few minutes tearing t…

If you're a photography fan or know someone who is, just say the word Leica and watch their eyes light up. First developed 100 years ago in Germany, it's gained cult status around the world, especially with anyone familiar with the work …

I always find great new makers and brands among the Martha Stewart American Made finalists , but they tend to be more about handmade home decor, accessories, stationery--pretty much anything other than technology. So I was really happy t…

The folks at Safari Cardboard captured our attention ages ago with their now ubiquitous (yet still appealing) cardboard taxidermy in one of our gift guides, followed by their cool gift boxes , and eventually cardboard holiday wreaths . A…

The Novogratz family is back, and since I'm a fan of their accessible but eclectic decorating style , I like that they're continuing their quest for colorful world design domination with a new line of modern custom photo gifts that shoul…

I've seen these game controller chocolates at all the fancy chocolate shops in my 'hood, so how cool is it that you can save yourself a fortune and make your own thanks to our pals at Think Geek . This game controller chocolate mold feat…

Whether you're thinking holidays or just looking to freshen up your fall wardrobe, tech style we're loving these blingy hashtag necklaces from local NYC jewelry, Electric Picks . Which makes it an Electric Cool Mom Pick, since you'll fin…